02-11-2019, 10:51 AM
Joseph Parker sees Dereck Chisora as his ticket back to top of heavyweight division
Joseph Parker has welcomed a chance to fight Dereck Chisora, believing a win over the rugged British heavyweight can move him back into the top mix of the division.
Former WBO champion Parker is being eyed as an opponent for Chisora on a London card in late April headlined by Dillian Whyte.
It's a hugely marketable fight with both Parker and Chisora having lost tight fights to Whyte last year and both having beaten respected French fighter Carlos Takam.
Despite suffering nine career losses, veteran British slugger Dereck Chisora remains a respected contender.
Parker, after two losses in th UK last year to unified champion Anthony Joshua and Whyte, steadied his career with an impressive December knockout of Alexander Flores in Christchurch but desperately needs a bigger scalp to move him back into the title talk.
The vastly experienced Chisora presents that opportunity though comes with risks given his heavy hands.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker's getting through plenty of skills and drills at his Las Vegas training camp.
"I think that fight throws me straight into the mix again. Chisora's a guy who's been around for a long time, got a lot of experience," Parker told talkSPORT in the UK.
"And, you know, the performance he put in with the last fight against Dillian Whyte, he looked good.
"He looked like the pressure that he put on, the punches that he threw, he was actually leading on the cards before he got knocked out.
"As a fighter, it looks like he's got a second wind in his career.
"I think at the moment my team is focussing on Chisora.
"There's other options, but I think that's the one that sort of stands out to us at the moment.
"I think as long as it makes sense for both teams I'm happy to go ahead.
"I'm ready for war. I know he likes to go to war."
Parker remains eager for a rematch with Whyte and believes Chisora can help those hopes.
"I would love the opportunity to rematch and to fight him again. I know I have to take steps to get back to the top and to get back to that level."
Meanwhile, Parker added a bit of spice to the British scene when he was asked who hit harder – Joshua or Whyte.
Parker want the distance with both fighters and twice had to climb off the canvas against Whyte, being floored for the first time in his career.
"Well obviously Dillian dropped me, so of course he hits really hard," Parker told TalkSPORT.
"There was a lot of punches that he threw in the fight that got me stunned, but I just fought back.
"Joshua didn't land any heavy blows so I'll be on Dillian's side. He was the harder hitter."
Parker believes he remains at the elite level of a division that is heating up with the return of Tyson Fury and the emergence of other talent like American Jarrell Miller who is tipped to fight Whyte or Joshua next.
"I think the heavyweight division at the moment is probably the most exciting it's been for a while," Parker said.
"With all these different fighters and all these top fighters, there's so many fights that you can make.
"I think it's just exciting for the fans. I know there's a lot of people that want Joshua to fight this person and that person but ultimately it's his decision man.
"He's at the top of the heavyweight division, he makes the calls."
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Joseph Parker has welcomed a chance to fight Dereck Chisora, believing a win over the rugged British heavyweight can move him back into the top mix of the division.
Former WBO champion Parker is being eyed as an opponent for Chisora on a London card in late April headlined by Dillian Whyte.
It's a hugely marketable fight with both Parker and Chisora having lost tight fights to Whyte last year and both having beaten respected French fighter Carlos Takam.
Despite suffering nine career losses, veteran British slugger Dereck Chisora remains a respected contender.
Parker, after two losses in th UK last year to unified champion Anthony Joshua and Whyte, steadied his career with an impressive December knockout of Alexander Flores in Christchurch but desperately needs a bigger scalp to move him back into the title talk.
The vastly experienced Chisora presents that opportunity though comes with risks given his heavy hands.
Kiwi heavyweight Joseph Parker's getting through plenty of skills and drills at his Las Vegas training camp.
"I think that fight throws me straight into the mix again. Chisora's a guy who's been around for a long time, got a lot of experience," Parker told talkSPORT in the UK.
"And, you know, the performance he put in with the last fight against Dillian Whyte, he looked good.
"He looked like the pressure that he put on, the punches that he threw, he was actually leading on the cards before he got knocked out.
"As a fighter, it looks like he's got a second wind in his career.
"I think at the moment my team is focussing on Chisora.
"There's other options, but I think that's the one that sort of stands out to us at the moment.
"I think as long as it makes sense for both teams I'm happy to go ahead.
"I'm ready for war. I know he likes to go to war."
Parker remains eager for a rematch with Whyte and believes Chisora can help those hopes.
"I would love the opportunity to rematch and to fight him again. I know I have to take steps to get back to the top and to get back to that level."
Meanwhile, Parker added a bit of spice to the British scene when he was asked who hit harder – Joshua or Whyte.
Parker want the distance with both fighters and twice had to climb off the canvas against Whyte, being floored for the first time in his career.
"Well obviously Dillian dropped me, so of course he hits really hard," Parker told TalkSPORT.
"There was a lot of punches that he threw in the fight that got me stunned, but I just fought back.
"Joshua didn't land any heavy blows so I'll be on Dillian's side. He was the harder hitter."
Parker believes he remains at the elite level of a division that is heating up with the return of Tyson Fury and the emergence of other talent like American Jarrell Miller who is tipped to fight Whyte or Joshua next.
"I think the heavyweight division at the moment is probably the most exciting it's been for a while," Parker said.
"With all these different fighters and all these top fighters, there's so many fights that you can make.
"I think it's just exciting for the fans. I know there's a lot of people that want Joshua to fight this person and that person but ultimately it's his decision man.
"He's at the top of the heavyweight division, he makes the calls."
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